Deer Creek Station to be Turned Over to Coop for Commissioning
Posted on Feb 10, 2012
Boldt Construction is nearly complete with its construction work on Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s 300-MW natural gas combined-cycle generation facility near Elkton, South Dakota. Boldt plans to turn the facility over to Basin Electric for commissioning within the next couple of weeks, and the facility is scheduled to be online in June 2012. The Brookings Register has been following this story.
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Oglethorpe Praises NRC Approval of License for New Nuclear Units
Posted on Feb 10, 2012
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4-1 on February 9 to approve plans for two new nuclear units at the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant. Oglethorpe Power Corporation, a 30 percent owner of the new units, along with the other co-owners of new units are now looking forward to 2016 and 2017 when the units are scheduled to come online. Electric Co-op Today has the full story.
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Alaska Coop Seeks Preliminary Permit to Study Hydroelectricity
Posted on Feb 9, 2012
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting a preliminary permit to study the feasibility of a hydroelectric project located near the town of Old Harbor, Kodiac Island Borough, Alaska. The preliminary permit does not authorize any land-disturbing activities, but if granted, the permit holder will have priority to file a license application. FERC’s notice of the application is available here.
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Coop Agrees to Purchase Power from Lumber Mill Biomass Plant
Posted on Feb 9, 2012
Flathead Electric Cooperative will purchase up to 2.5 MW from a a Montana timber mill generator powered by biomass energy. The 20-year agreement will begin in 2013 and should have a minimal impact on the coop members’ rates. The project will put biomass energy to good use and help manage forest health while creating jobs. Hungry Horse News has the details.
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Arkansas PSC to Review Arkansas Plant’s Environmental Controls Plan
Posted on Feb 9, 2012
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) requested the Arkansas Public Service Commission review the company’s environmental control installation plans for the Flint Creek Power Plant. SWEPCO and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation each own 50 percent of the 528-MW coal-fired generation plant. The proposed controls would limit the amount of hazardous air pollutants emitted from the plant and would cost approximately $408 million to install. The plant owners aim to have the controls in operation by June 2016. Read more.
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Tenth Circuit Says Customer Is “Stuck Between a Rock and a Pile of Sewage”: Tying Suit Against City Moves Forward After U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal
Posted on Feb 7, 2012
Unlawful tying arrangements are a frequent point of contention between electric cooperatives and municipalities. On January 17, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a decision that permits an unlawful tying/monopolization claim to go forward against the City of Newkirk, Oklahoma. Click here for more.
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Endangered Houston Toad Impedes Bastrop Fire Clean-up
Posted on Feb 7, 2012
The process of collecting debris and connecting electrical service to customers in the Bastrop County burn area has slowed because the unseasonably warm weather and recent rain have increased the activity of the endangered Houston toad. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative must seek approval from federal officials before proceeding on work at most job sites around the county so the natural activity of the Houston toad is not hampered. Read more here.
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Alaskan Healy Clean Coal Project Approved
Posted on Feb 7, 2012
Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation renewed a key air quality permit to restart a mothballed 50-MW coal power plant in interior Alaska. Environmental groups that oppose restarting the plant are expected to file appeals before the permit is finalized. The plant, owned by Golden Valley Electric Association, an electric coop, may reduce rates to interior Alaska customers by 20 percent. Click here for more.
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South Carolina Energy Providers Promote Economic Development
Posted on Feb 2, 2012
A coalition of South Carolina energy providers, including the state-owned utility Santee Cooper and 20 coops, are implementing a new rate-cutting strategy to increase job growth in the state. The plan will reduce rates during “peak” periods for new and expanding industries that create a certain number of jobs or make a comparable monetary investment. Interested industrial customers must sign an agreement with their energy providers by the end of 2014 to participate in the plan. Click here for more.
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NERC Proposes Modified Definition of Bulk Electric System
Posted on Jan 31, 2012
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has proposed that all transmission facilities operated at 100 kV or higher and all real and reactive power resources connected to the grid at 100 kV or higher be subject to its Reliability Standards. In NERC’s January 25, 2012 petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve its revised definition of “Bulk Electric System” (BES) – the term used by NERC to identify the electric transmission, generation and related facilities subject to the Reliability Standards – NERC adopted 100 kV as a...
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Idaho Company Seeks Landfill Gas PPA
Posted on Jan 31, 2012
Avista Corporation is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve a purchase power agreement with Kootenai Electric Cooperative’s 3.2-megawatt landfill gas generating facility near Bellgrove, Idaho, 15 miles south of Coeur d’Alene. Under the agreement, Avista would purchase the project’s output at the lower of either 85 percent of the market rate or the avoided-cost rate for Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act projects smaller than 10 average megawatts. Click here for more.
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Coops Receive USDA Rural Economic Development Grants
Posted on Jan 31, 2012
Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation in North Carolina, Clarke-Washington Electric Membership Corporation in Alabama and Heartland Power Cooperative in Iowa were among the coops that received grants under the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that loans and grants will be provided to applicants in 10 states to support businesses, improve the quality of medical care, and create or save hundreds of jobs. Click here for a list of the coops, the details and the amounts awarded.
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Texas Power Plant Set to Reopen in 2013
Posted on Jan 30, 2012
Sandy Creek Power Plant, which has been shut down for the past three months, is now set to go back online in 2013. Damage to the plant’s boiler led to the shut down and officials report that materials have already been ordered to fix the problem, but the delay in reopening the facility could affect the state’s electricity supply. Click here for more.
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Coops’ Input Leads to Beneficial Bills
Posted on Jan 30, 2012
The House Agriculture Committee has advanced three bills that address electric cooperatives’ concerns with federal regulators’ writing of financial reform regulations. The bills would allow coops to continue using financial instruments such as derivatives, which help insulate customers from price volatility without being subjected to potentially costly regulations. To read more about bills causing concern for coops, click here.
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